Down to Earth

by Julia Turshen

From the beloved cookbook author Julia Turshen, a queer love story set in your new favorite town, Sungold.

Frankie doesn’t quite know what to make of Paige, who’s just moved from Brooklyn to her quiet Upstate New York hometown with all the pressed-clothes polish of a city girl. Paige, with her eight-year-old son in tow, is seeking refuge from a rocky relationship and is equally thrown by Frankie: Why can’t she stop thinking about this eternally single, charming, gay vegetable farmer? And could the attraction she’s feeling grow into something more?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Queer, LGBT, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Lesbian

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2026

Reviews

[Adi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very cute sapphic romance! I really enjoyed the setting, the cast of characters, the city girl/farmer pairing, the body positivity, and overall I found it to be a very easy read.

There were a couple things that kept my rating at 3 stars. 1) As someone who doesn't love dual POV, I did feel that this one felt a bit insta-lovey. And 2) there was a bit of a grey area with Paige falling in love with someone while on a "trial" separation (maybe not a trial for her, but a trial for her husband?).

Other than that, I thought this was an incredibly sweet read and one a lot of people will enjoy!

Thank you so much to 831 stories for the copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate this up like it was dessert!! I loved it so much! They had me at queer vegetable farmer!!

The setting for this book was absolutely perfect! The author did such a wonderful job at describing everything in such a dreamy voice! I just adored their writing style and will be reading more from them!

I loved loved loved Paige and Frankie! I loved that they both had real world issues that they were working with and that they’re doing their best to deal with them. I loved Frankie’s body positivity and it was refreshing to see that in a book. She was just so unbelievably cool and she cares so much about her workers and the people in the town!

I loved all the background characters too! I hope we get more books based off of the other people in the town! This book had such a fun diverse set of characters and I don’t feel quite ready to leave this cute town!

I definitely recommend reading this sweet book if you love sapphic love stories and Stardew Valley vibes!

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m always eating up a sapphic, grumpy/sunshine romance but I wanted something a bit deeper here. Parts of this just felt a little unbelievable to me, some of the dialogue between Paige and Frankie on their dates, etc.

And I really can’t deal with Frankie being described as “moving like an elegant truck”

Gotta draw the line somewhere

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “Down to Earth”, Faith takes a break from New York City and her failing marriage to slow down for the summer and reevaluate what she wants from life. She and her son, Bobby, move to Sungold where Faith quickly befriends the local vegetable farmer, Frankie. Faith and Frankie’s relationship grows as they face life’s obstacles and cultivate the love they deserve in this sapphic summer romance.

I love a main character who is a parent and this book was no exception! I also enjoy a small town romance and the sweet vibes of Sungold shone throughout the book. This was fun and I’d recommend this to anyone interested in a sapphic, hallmark-esque story with mature main characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Marlou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me an 831 sapphic romance! Gimme more pls

[Annie Tate Cockrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet! I've been loving the new 831 books where the protagonist is older and/or a parent - this one, Rooting Interest, and Major Gift. The main characters of this are only in their 40s but it still feels refreshing reading about people finding love, who aren't young young. I felt especially charmed by Frankie, one of our main characters, who runs a farm in upstate ny. I'd read a prequel about her for sure.

Out 6/23!

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet! A delicious summertime treat; of course there are incredible descriptions of food. I also loved her depiction of how picturesque the Hudson Valley is, which is arguably the most beautiful place on earth. And there is also some subtle/not-so-subtle body positivity woven in that was really nice to read. Makes me want a tomato sandwich and a hot farmer who harvested those tomatoes for me!

[Mary Gael · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review - thank you net galley for the ARC!!!

Loved this and it was so deeply felt. The setting was gorgeous, I loved their relationship, and the side characters were just enough sprinkled in to flesh out the world without detracting from the narrative. And though it had a slow start, once things got moving I was flying through it. 831 stories are always a hit with me!!!

[NRC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooooh I liked this a lot! Once again, I wish this were a full-length novel so that we could get more background on the characters and the community, also more drama with Jared. I loved the way Julia wrote about the different female forms. Is it too late to move to upstate New York and be a hot lesbian farmer?

[my scary library]

This was my first 831 stories book and I was pleasantly surprised! It was quite readable and displayed amazing queer representation of butch lesbians, bisexual fems, and nonbinary people. It was also a breath of fresh air reading a romance about characters in their 40s. On the other hand, this book didn’t blow my socks off; I have read romances where I have gotten more attached, and this could be because of the novel’s length. Overall, this was a sweet lesbian romance and if you’re looking for something short but that still packs a punch, this book is for you!

[emily (whatsemilyreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

shoutout 831 stories for the earc <3 i am from upstate new york and i realllllly love reading stories set in upstate! this one was super enjoyable. paige and frankie's chemistry was off the charts. i'm learning as i get older that i adore second chance romance, and i really liked that this was a later-in-life queer awakening of sorts. not a huuuuge fan of kids in books but bobby made himself scarce enough i could stomach it. i miss upstate in the summer and i loved being able to make myself at home in this story for a few days. 831 hasn't missed for me yet!!!!

[Madison Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you 831 Stories & Julia Turshen for this ARC of Down to Earth!

I throughly enjoyed this easy small town summer romance. Quick read with dynamic characters. Wish it was full length so we could learn more about Frankie.

Spoiler: Only one explicit scene about mid-way through the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had me thinking living on a farm wouldn’t be that bad.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever wanted to uproot your life and go fall in love on a farm? Because if so the sapphic romance Down to Earth by Julia Turnsten (also a cookbook writer/chef) is for you!

Paige is separated from her husband for the summer taking some time with her son to decide what to do about her marriage and goes to Sungold, New York. When she meets Frankie, the cute farmer who runs Two Peas Farm, sparks fly and romance ensues.

The perfect mix of steam, comfort, and the most delicious sounding food I’ve ever heard. If you are capable of reading this book and not spending the whole time craving a tomato sandwich —which I’ve never even had (but will make with Frankie’s recipe!), than you have a lot more willpower than me.

I also think the novella does a great job of showing just how much work farming can be! This is such a cute summer book about how it’s never too late to start over and fall in love again! Thank you 831 stories for the ARC and ALC. Also Julia you should write more fiction! you’ve got a new fan!

[kailin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ★
i love how every novella from 831 stories manages to cover a wide ranges of topics while creating a diverse and dynamic cast of characters you genuinely care about.

down to earth was so good — touching on topics like fatphobia, sexuality, local farming, the value in community, a slower pace of life, grief, learning to move through it and most importantly, going after the life you want without hesitation. i loved how frankie and paige were instantly drawn to one another, but the chemistry and relationship still had a natural build. i really enjoyed the dual povs and all the quick recipes frankie pulled out. you can really tell the author is passionate about food and thanks to her, i will be making myself a tomato sandwich asap.

thank you to julia turshen, 831 stories and netgalley for this e-arc 🖤

[coco's reading]

DNF @ pg. 96

I wanted to stick with this for the sapphic romance and plus-size representation, but Down to Earth was pretty underwhelming. The story never got cozy like I'd expected—the town's named Sungold, and there's an emphasis on farming and community—and I struggled to connect to and enjoy either Paige or Frankie. Dual POV in romance novels tends to work really well for me, but in a novella such as this, it meant one character (Frankie) didn't get as much focus. I also wasn't a fan of the general scenario of Paige being on a trial separation from her husband—who doesn't seem to truly grasp that's what's happening—and starting a romantic relationship during this period when she's meant to be focusing on herself and her son.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

this just really did not do it for me in a multitude of ways.

The best part - the description of the tomato sandwich (made with ingredients fresh from the garden.) Julia Turshen is a fantastic cookbook author and it showed!
The worst part was one character (lovingly and in full seriousness) called their girlfriend "an elegant truck." Girl! What happened to just calling them stunning and hot? Must we involve trucks???

[Blaire Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love butch representation. I do feel like this would’ve benefitted being a full length novel but still fantastic

[Megan Strauss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Funny to go from Yesteryear farm life to Down to Earth farm life without meaning to. This novella was alright, but too surface level. I felt like the author could have gone deeper in Frankie’s family history, Paige’s identity, and Bobby’s challenges with family crisis.

[E Mourot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through this in a day! Such a cute, quick, and endearing read.

[Harrison Choate · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s so hard to see other people living your dream

[Jessica Insogna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to see this trope in a non-Hallmark setting. Amazing food descriptions. Need to go have a tomato sandwich now

[ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

it has everything i want in life: lesbians, single parent, a farm and a small town in new england

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 perhaps bc so cheesy silly but i did read it in one day so..

[Fiona W · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was zero conflict but what a delight. Brassicas 4ever.

[Genna Benoit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yuhhh so cute!!!

[Hannah Kornfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute rom-com like a hallmark movie with a big city woman who moves to the small town and meets a vegetable farmer. Short and sweet.

[Liz Adamack · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 ⭐️) loved it! Would be a perfect small town romance hallmark movie. Excellent representation throughout the book too!

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

The urge to move upstate and run the social media account for a gay owned farm

[Amber | backinthebookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley, 831 Stories, and Julia Turshen for the opportunity to review an advance copy of “Down to Earth.” 831 Stories is my go-to for a romance fix, and as a queer woman, I love to see a sapphic novella on the roster for this year!

This sweet small town sapphic romance follows Paige, a mom from the big city on a trial separation from her husband, and Frankie, a small town vegetable farmer. They hit it off instantly, and Paige finds herself falling in love with the town and its local farmer. And Frankie finds that falling in love means breaking down walls, something she is not used to.

The book had me hooked right away - great setting, cute banter, and a fun plot line. The writing was strong as well. I was absolutely IN for the first third of the book.

It took a dip for me after that. The only way I can describe the story is a bit shallow. The plot was too predictable, and Paige’s husband being 100% awful with no redeeming qualities felt a bit unrealistic and convenient to move the plot along. I wanted more struggle, more indecision for the characters. But it just felt too easy. There was also way too much tell and not enough show. Time jumped around too much and tried to fill in the holes, which made the pacing feel weird. It also made their falling in love feel too quick and kind of awkward. This probably would have functioned better as a full length novel instead of a novella. I think it had so much potential, but the reasons listed previously made it fall flat for me.

This book could be great for those seeking a comforting sapphic romance, but I personally don’t know if I would recommend this one.